Τετάρτη, 31 Οκτωβρίου 2012

She stayed
a little bit longer in the shower, trying desperately to relax and wash away
the memory of the previous incident. Her ankle was now the least of the problems
she had. Her biggest concern was her insurmountableattraction to Phillip. She wanted him desperately. A man like him was
like a walking invitation to sin. And she wanted to succumb to this lust.

Melissa
wore a pair of loose pants, probably her mother’s and a tight t-shirt. She
brushed her hair and went straight to bed. She went online and logged in her
e-mail account. She had no new e-mails and reservations. But this did not make
her feel bad. Nothing could make her feel bad. The only thing she could think
right now was that she was lying next door to the object of her desire and she
could do nothing about it. On his desktop she found a folder named “summer
photos” and she was tempted to open it. She knew it was wrong but she wanted to
see pictures of his private life. All she found in the folder was photos with him
and friends. According to the pictures, he had a dog, he liked walking on the
beach, he had a sailing boat, he liked
blonde women and he had a great, great, great body.

She closed
the folder quickly because she did not want to be caught red handed. She felt
really bad after seeing the photos. After seeing him casually dressed every
day, after having laughed and flirted with him, she had almost forgotten how
wealthy he was. These photos reminded her of the huge gap between them. He was
a rich businessman, who led a life full of luxury and opulence. He had
everything he wanted. And what was she exactly? A simple girl from the suburbs,
hard working but not very successful. Even if life brought them together for a
week, this same life would eventually tear them apart. That was the destiny of
their acquaintance, she thought. A sudden beginning and an inglorious end.

She covered
her face with her pink duvet and tried to sleep. Phillips was nowhere to be
heard. She hadn’t seen him for over an hour now.

“Mr Mills!”
she shouted, “Come here”.

“At your service,
madam” he said after a while. He was talking on the phone but he hang up
immediately.

“I was
thinking that since we have plenty of time available, maybe we should talk
about the inn. I want to close this chapter once and for all” she said.

“That’s the
worst way to spend the morning” he said with a mischievous smile which revealed
his perfect teeth.

“So, are
you still interested in buying my inn, sir?” she said.

“Yes, I am.
And I think that calling me “sir” while I am sitting on your bed wearing my pajamas
is hilarious”.

“How
exactly are you planning to convince me change my mind?” she said, avoiding his
comment. “I am perfectly happy with the way things are so far. I want to buy
some equipment and enrich my inn and I am planning to do so by working hard,
sir”.

“Are you
planning to live 100 years?” he asked her suddenly.

“What is
that supposed to mean?”

“It means
that only if you live 100 years and minimize your expenditure will you be able
to find the money you need to change this inn into whatever you want to turn it
into”.

“Well, I am
young and I am not afraid of hard work”.

“Miss
Wilkinson, you are being stubborn and that is the biggest flaw a person can
have. I am offering you 4 million pounds for 10 acres of land. You will be able
to do whatever you want with this money” he finished.

Melissa was
astonished, to say the least. Four million pounds? This amount exceeded her
wildest dreams.

“Although
the amount is compelling, I am not interested. This is my home. Houses are for sale.
Homes are not”.

“What are
you planning to do then, miss Wilkinson? Stay here and cling to your property
until the debt sends you straight to the prison?”.

“You are
deliberately trying to scare me” she protested.

“I am not.
Your inn is loss-making and you refuse to face the truth”.

“I will get
a loan”.

“No, you
will not”.

“I will”.

“No, you
will not” he insisted.

“Why are
you so damn sure?” she yelled. His confidence drove her crazy.

“The
easiest thing for me to do is to make sure that no bank gives you a loan. I am
very powerful, you know” he said.

“You
wouldn’t do that, would you?” she barked to him.

“Oh, I
would. You know I do not like losing”.

“You cannot
be so cruel. I know you can’t”.

“I will
make sure that all banks know that you are an unreliable client and I will pull
my strings so that nobody will trust your business ever again” he said.

“And I will
contact the Business Hospitality Association and tell them that you are
harassing me and that you threatened to destroy me” she said smilingly.

Phillip’s
smile froze on his lips. Melissa had hit the nail right on the head.

“I am sure
you thought that I cannot fight you back, didn’t you? I will let the whole
world know that you threatened a young and innocent woman into selling her only
possession AND that you sexually harassed her best friend”.

Melissa
woke up and her ankle was still sore and swollen. The worst part though was
that she had spent the whole night fantasizing about Phillip. She woke up
several times during night feeling hot flashes sweeping her body. She tried to
go to the bathroom to wash her face with cold water in order to feel better. No
luck whatsoever. Every time she closed her eyes she saw Phillip lying beside
her, spreading tender kisses throughout her body and making her feel the way
she had never felt before. She finally woke up at 7.30 and stayed in her bed to
snooze. She was ambivalent as to what to do.

She felt
like staying in bed but at the same time she knew she had many things to do.

She tried
to get up and get undressed. Last night she fell asleep with her clothes on and
now she wanted to wear something more comfortable. In an attempt to remove her
jeans she did a violent move and felt an intense pain. A scream escaped from
her lungs. Transfixed from the pain, she started crying from desperation. She
was bedridden and all she wanted was to get up, change her clothes and get some
painkillers. She was exhausted from the effort to remove her clothes and her
foot was now throbbing. What were her options?

“Mr.
Mills!” she cried. “Mr. Mills!!!”.

For a few
seconds she thought that he had left and she was all alone in an empty inn. Her
only hope was to fall off the bed and crawl to her mobile phone for help.

“What is
it?” she heard him say while rushing into her room. He was obviously terrified.

“Have you been
crying? What’s wrong?” he yelled at her while sitting on her bed.

“I can’t do
anything. My foot hurts and I want a pill and I can’t reach it. I can’t remove
my jeans because my foot is too swollen. I don’t know what to do” she said sobbing.

Phillip
reacted quickly. He went downstairs and brought her a piece of cake. “Eat this
and then I will give you a painkiller” he said. He brought her mobile phone
close to her bed and then he went to his bedroom and brought her his laptop.

“Stay here,
use my laptop for your reservations and e-mails. Get some rest and I will go
and buy some crutches for you” he said. “I will be back soon” he said.

“I have
many things to do” she said with sulkiness.

“I will do
them for you” he said in a soothing tone.

“I will
call Mrs Phillipson and tell her to come earlier. Jonathan will be here later this
afternoon so you don’t have to worry about anything. All you have to do is feed
the horses. Can you do that for me?” she said.

“I can do much
more than that” he said with an inscrutable smile.

“Where are
you going?” she yelled. She didn’t want to stay alone.

“You’ll
see” he said.

In a few
minutes he came holding a tray with an orange juice and a sandwich. And a pair
of scissors.

“What’s
this?” she asked. “What are you planning to do to me?” she added.

“Do you
like your jeans?” he asked her.

“Not
particularly, no. They are comfortable and I have had them since high school but
I…”.

That was
all she managed to say because the next moment Phillip grabbed the scissors and
started tearing her jeans from the bottom of the trouser legs and upwards.

“What are
you doing?” she said, utterly surprised.

“We have to
get rid of them. They are tight and cut off your blood supply. And, you have to
change clothes at some point”.

“But you’ll
see me naked” she protested.

“Come on,
don’t be so demure. I will look away” he said in a serious tone and kept ripping
her jeans with his bare hands now.

Finally, he
reached the waistband and with a swift move removed the pieces of her jeans
under her body. She was now wearing a t-shirt and a tiny lace underwear.

Phillip had
promised not to look but he was looking. Melissa could see that all he needed
was the slightest consent from her part.

“I like
what I see” he told her, sitting next to her, with his head over hers.

Her throat
was closed from desire. A simple word, a nod would be enough for her to invite him
into her arms. She wanted him so desperately it hurt, but the last thing she
needed was to sleep with such an unreliable man.

“That was
not my intention when I wore them, sir” she said smilingly.

“Still” he
said and smiled back.

“You will
have to leave me alone now, sir. I have to take a shower”.

“I will be
around in case you need anything” he said and got up really slowly.

“I am
leaving” he announced. Melissa could she that he wanted her to stop him.

Τρίτη, 30 Οκτωβρίου 2012

Melissa
spent a painful yet lovely (if possible!) afternoon with Phillip. He prepared a
green salad with chicken chunks and squeezed an orange juice for her. He carried
the tray and sat next to her on the sofa and opened his newspaper. He was wearing
tracksuit bottoms and a black t-shirt with a university logo. He walked barefoot.
Melissa felt so relaxed next to him that she wanted to snuggle with him. It
would be so natural…A young man and a young woman, alone, in a cozy living
room.

On the other
hand Phillip did not seem to pay much attention to her. He asked her
occasionally if she needed anything but other than that he did not bother her.
Melissa wondered if the reason for not speaking to her was the plain fact that
he found her boring.

“Mr. Mills,
I want you to know that although I despise your presence here, I appreciate
your help in my predicament” she finally said.

“I’d rather
you called me Phillip” he said.

“I’d rather
not, sir” she said.

“As you
wish” he said and kept reading.

Melissa felt
trapped. At ten o’clock she wanted to get up and go to her room. She was tired
and she needed to lie down. Phillip had attended her needs exceptionally well.
He had rubbed her foot, gave her medicine, wrapped her foot in elastic bandage
and yelled to her about her carelessness. She was now ready to go to sleep but
she did not know how to put it.

“Erm, Mr.
Mills, I will have to excuse myself” she said shyly “but I want to go upstairs.
I am quite tired and I want to go to bed”. She tried to stand up but the pain
was too intense.

“What do
you think you’re doing?” he said abruptly.

“I am going
to my bedroom if you don’t mind” she said, ready to put up a fight.

“And how
exactly are you planning to do that?” he said ironically. “You cannot step your
foot”.

“What are
you suggesting? That I stay and sleep in the living room? Please leave me
alone!” she exclaimed and took a painful step. She tried to conceal a grimace
of pain but failed.

Phillip
reacted swiftly. He got up and put his arms behind her knees. In a mere second
he was carrying her on his arms like a shy bride. Melissa thought she was dreaming.
And it was a lovely dream! He was carrying her around like a doll and Melissa
could not help thinking that he seemed experienced in this. He must have
carried many women to his bed. Nevertheless, she managed to relax and her cheek
on his strong chest.

“That was
uncalled for” she said with her arms around his neck. She could smell his
perfume. It was something strangely familiar. His lips were so inviting, she had
to look away for fear that he would see the lust in her eyes.

“Whatever”
he said in a dismissive tone and kept climbing the stairs with ease.

He opened
the door to her bedroom and laid her on her bed. Then he looked around. “That
is a beautiful room, Miss Wilkinson” he said.

“Thank you,
sir” she said. She had it redecorated last year and she was very pleased with
the result.

“I will
have to leave you now, miss. My principles don’t allow me to stay any longer”
he said smilingly. Damn principles, she thought. If only he could lie beside
her…

“Goodnight,
Mr. Mills” she mumbled and she heard him sigh.

“Do you
need any help with your clothes or the beddings?” he said in a serious tone.

“Is that a
question or an offer, sir?” she challenged him.

“Keep
looking at me like that and I’ll make sure you’ll get no rest tonight”.

Δευτέρα, 29 Οκτωβρίου 2012

Okay. What
was that? A fit of jealousy? He was standing still, next to the piano and was
looking at them as if he had caught them doing something improper.

“She has
sprained her ankle, sir” said John while bending down to put some ice cubes covered
with a towel on her ankle. Melissa was in great agony but managed to smile.
“John, you are so kind, but please don’t worry. I can do it myself” she said.

“There is
no way I’m leaving you alone” he said politely but Melissa saw with the corner
of her eye that this comment made Phillip very angry.

“She is not
alone, sir. I can take care of her” he said coldly.

“You are a
client, sir, and I am her friend. It’s only logical that I stay here and make
sure she is fine” John insisted. Melissa saw the sparks in the air; the two men were looking each other as if they
were ready to duel over her honour. Where did this come from?

Phillip was
obviously no match for fight but John, obviously thinner and shorter, was not intimidated.

“I stay
here and you are leaving. I’d say it’s only logical that I look after her. We
do not want to put you in trouble, sir” said Phillip and for a moment Melissa
pondered about who was right.

“Please,
gentlemen, I can take care of myself” she said weakly.

“Oh, that
we can see” Phillip said stressing “that” and pointing her ankle.

“You ankle
is swollen and you seem ready to stand up and go make us some tea” he said and
Melissa laughed reluctantly.

“How do you
know? I was about to ask you if you wanted some” she said.

He smiled
to her and Melissa felt her heart melt. She looked at his dark eyes and saw a
glimpse she had never seen before. He was really worried.

John must
have felt somehow that his presence was superfluous and announced his
departure.

“Well,
dear, since the kind gentleman can take care of you, I am taking the samples to
the lab now. I will contact you later to see if you are okay” he said and bent
over to kiss her. In a flauntingly tender move he stroked her hair a little bit
before leaving. Melissa was puzzled by this behaviour but most importantly she
was afraid of staying with Phillip. When John closed the door behind him,
Melissa tried to stand up but Phillip reacted.

“What are
you doing”? he asked in a serious tone.

“I am going
to make something for you to eat” she said. “It’s almost dinner time”.

“Now, tell
me, are you kidding me?” he asked with his left eyebrow lifted. “You sit here,
put some ice on your ankle for 15 minutes only and I will bring a footrest for
you to put for foot on. You have to have your foot elevated above the level of
your heart. As for dinner, I will make us something to eat. After all, we were
supposed to go out tonight” he said and Melissa blushed.

“We were
not. I told you I had a friend over” she insisted.

“And what a
friend that was!” he said with a grin on his face. “As charming as a prince!”.

“You don’t
think so?” she said tauntingly. “I find him very attractive”.

“Well, if
you like a ponce, then yes”.

Melissa did
not reply to this rude comment but kept in mind that Phillip was afraid that if
Melissa found somebody then it would be more difficult to intimidate her into
selling her inn.

Melissa
stayed there, waiting for him to come back with the footrest. The pain was
throbbing now and her ankle was very swollen. She grabbed her mobile and called
the family doctor to come and see her. Dr Morris told her that he could be
there in half an hour and Melissa felt relieved.

Phillip put
the footrest in front of her and took her foot in his lap. He was rubbing her
toes and Melissa was trying to conceal how painful it was because Phillips was
trying his best not to hurt her.

“Now, move
you ankle in circles” he said in a commanding tone.

“Mr. Mills,
I am not comfortable with you doing that” she said and she really meant it.
Although she felt that she was going to pass out from the pain, the feeling of
his hands on her feet was a magical experience. Thank God, I had them shaved
last night, she thought and smiled.

“Why not,
miss Wilkinson?” he asked with a look on his face that defied all hypotheses. Did
he know how she felt? He must have known his impact on women.

Melissa
chose not to respond, in lack of a good answer, and relaxed. He was rubbing her
ankle and she was savouring every moment. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the
feeling of his strong hands on her delicate skin.

Dr Morris
came 40 minutes later and gave her a prescription for some anti-inflammatory
drugs. Although Melissa was happy to see him, she felt a bit disappointed when
Phillip left her feet down.

“I will go
and buy them” said Phillip and the doctor smiled.

“Mr. Mills,
I congratulate you on your response. Your took excellent care of my patient” he
said and Phillip smiled widely.

“Thank you,
doctor. That is the kindest thing I’ve heard in a few days now”.

Monday
morning and Melissa was very excited. She had just received a letter from a
small bank which was interested in funding her inn. She had applied in every
single bank in the UK
but only this one has shown any interest. She was invited to the headquarters
of the bank in London
for a discussion with an investment representative. The appointment was for
Wednesday so she had a lot of things to do until then. First of all, she had to
find all the property titles and documents, photocopy her father’s will, print
a balance report from her saving’s account and write a small business plan. She
wanted to appear professional and present them with a compelling case about her
plans for the inn. She would even go online a do a little research on the cost of
the equipment she had to buy in order to set up the “luxurious spa resort”. Who
knows? Maybe God decided to give a look towards my direction, she thought while
eating a bagel with her tea. She shared her news with Mrs. Philipsonand her nanny was really enthusiastic. “I am
so optimistic” she exclaimed. “I know your parents are looking down on you and
they are proud of you”. Melissa felt a lump in her throat, a clear indication
that she was about to cry. She always felt very emotional when thinking about
her parents. She missed them a lot. “Jonathan is outside trimming the bushes”
said Mrs Philipson suddenly. “Go and make sure he doesn’t butcher the poor
ones”.

Melissa
laughed at the idea of Jonathan destroying the bushes. It was true that
sometimes he overdid it with trimming but he always said “It’s only leaves.
They will grow back”. She went outside to find him wiping his sweat from his
forehead with the back of his palm. It was hot and sunny today and Melissa was
only wearing a pair of jeans and a light green long sleeve blouse. Suddenly she felt her mobile vibrating in her
pocket. It was John. “Hi, sweetheart” he said to her when she replied.

“John, I am
so happy to hear you. Oh, you are coming today?”.

“I want to
come today because I am leaving for Paris
on Friday and I want to have some time to run the results!” he said.

“Paris? Make sure you
visit Marianne!” Melissa said.

“Oh, I am
visiting a collaborative university there to give some lectures, but I am sure
I will find some time for Marianne” he said.

“I will be
here waiting for you” Melissa said and they hang up.

Melissa
imagined Paris
this time of the year. If she didn’t have the problems with the inn she would
definitely seize the opportunity and travel to Paris with John. She would stay at Marianne’s
and travel back with him. Maybe next year, she thought. Who knows…

At noon,
she went to make some tea for her and the guests. She left some tea cups and
some biscuits on the dining table. The young couple was leaving today so the
only guest who could drink her tea was Phillip. They would be alone for the
rest of the day and Tuesday. “Tea is ready” she said to him when she called his
room. He didn’t reply, but he came down, took a cup of tea and went straight to
the window.

“The
weather is lovely today” he said over his shoulder.

“Yes,
indeed” she said impersonally.

“Are we
alone?”.

“Mrs
Philipson has the day off, Jonathan is here and the Whitmans are leaving later.
So, no, we are not alone. How come you’re asking?” she said.

“I was
wondering whether you want to have dinner with me tonight” he said and Melissa
almost choked. He was still looking outside. His posture did not reveal much.

“Erm, I
have invited a friend later so I can’t” she said. “I am sorry” she added
wondering whether she should suggest another day.

“A friend?
Okay then” he said coldly and turned to face her. He seemed preoccupied with
something, Melissa thought.

“I have to
go now, thank you for the tea” he added and went upstairs holding his cup. He
didn’t even stay to finish it by the fireplace. What was wrong with him? Maybe
he had lost his interest in the inn and decided to give up, she thought
happily. She took a cloth and began cleaning the surfaces in order to forget
all about Mr. Mills.

At around 3
o’clock she heard the bell ring. It was John. He always pressed the button
twice.

“Welcome”
she said when he entered the inn. John gave her a quick kiss and started
looking all around.

“I love
what you have done with the place. It’s some time since the last time I came
and everything looks different. It’s really wonderful” he said and sat on her
favourite armchair. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a casual sweater. He
carried an old rucksack, probably full of little bottles and probes.

“I think so
too, thank you” Melissa said. “I bought some of the furniture from an antique
shop in London.
I visit it once or twice a year for ideas. If you are interested, next time I
go I will take you with me” she said.

“Yes, of
course, you know I love this style. So, where is the patient?” he asked and
Melissa burst into laughter.

“Come with
me” she said and walked to the door. John followed her at her heels.

“We should
take some towels and water with us” he suggested. “I might have to clean my
equipment afterwards” he added. Melissa took some water in glass bottles and
clean towels in her sack. “All ready! Let’s go!” she said with excitement. “I
feel as we’re going on a expedition” she said.

“If it
makes you feel better, you can wear a bandana around your head” he said and
Melissa laughed again.

“John, you
make me laugh like no-one else” she said. And she meant it.

After a
while they were on the shore of the lake collecting water samples. John told
her that he did not think the discoloration was an indicator of a serious
problem but he would test the samples to make sure that everything was okay.

“I am so
happy for this” Melissa said. “Coal and Chestnut often drink from the lake and
I don’t want them to be in danger”.

They walked
towards the inn next to each other sharing news form each other’s lives. John
was telling her about his early flight on Friday when her foot got stack under
a tree root protruding from the ground and she almost fell. She tried to
balance on her right foot and she felt an excruciating pain. John had to put
his arm around her to help her walk because her foot was very sore. “Are you
sure you don’t want me to carry you?” he asked her but Melissa was already
feeling better. “Don’t worry, it’s only an ankle sprain. I will sit down and
I’ll be fine” she said but John did not want to leave her alone. He was still
holding her tight to his body before leaving her on a chair in order to bring
some ice when Melissa heard a familiar voice that gave her shivers.

Σάββατο, 27 Οκτωβρίου 2012

Phillip did
not attend the farewell reception. He came down, he said goodbye to the guests
but did not stay for the buffet. Melissa tried not to feel upset by his absence
and managed to pull out a great party. Mrs Phillipson’s treats were delicious
and the red wine was a big success. Her guests promised to be back soon and
spread the word about her inn. Melissa was very happy when she accompanied them
to their cars. Her inn was full this weekend and the bookings for next month weren’t
bad either!

The best
part though was that in a few hours she would see the men in black leave. The
four businessmen were locked in Phillips’s room now. They were probably
discussing about the inn and its potential. Thank God they are leaving, she
thought. She did not like having them here. Of course, the pack leader would
stay but without his colleagues he did not seem so frightening.

One hour
after the departure of the guests, Melissa went to her office to call her
friend John. She wanted to ask him something about a small discoloration she
saw in her lake. John was very interested in environmental issues so she trusted
his opinion. They talked for more than half an hour but John was reluctant to
provide an answer without visiting the lake.

“You know
where it is” Melissa said laughingly.

“I sure do!
I want to take a sample and analyse it in the university’s lab. The sooner we
find out what it is the sooner we find the solution” he said in a professional
tone.

“Oh, come
on, don’t be all doctor with me!” she told him.

“I don’t
take these matters lightly” he said in a dead serious tone and then burst into laughers.
Melissa felt really relaxed when talking to him. John was always very close to
her. She often thought that they would make a perfect couple if they liked each
other this way. Relieved by the fact that John would visit the lake in a few
days, she hang up the phone and went to the kitchen to prepare a pizza for
tonight.

Mrs
Phillipson had left at noon and she wouldn’t return before Tuesday. Sundays and
Mondays were traditionally her days off and she always visited her family.
Melissa couldn’t help feeling very lonely without her presence in the house.
Jonathan was still there, though, ready to help her with the chores. Melissa
opened the cupboard tofind some flour for the dough. She
mixed the flour with water, oil, yeast and a pinch of salt. Then she left the
dough covered with blankets near the fireplace. In two hours from now, she
thought, the dough will be ready.

Outside her
inn, she saw Phillip saying goodbye to his colleagues. They were whispering to
each other as if they were sharing a dirty secret. Or maybe they were!

“Miss
Wilkinson, we were coming to say goodbye” Mr Russell said before getting in the
car.

“It was
nice having you” said Melissa coldly. She could never pretend.

“You inn is
very beautiful. Thank you for having us” said Mr Harrison.

Jonathan
put the luggage of the three businessmen in the luxurious car.

“Fancy car”
said Jonathan without trying to conceal his admiration.

“It is a
gift from Mr. Mills” said the driver, Mr. Russell.

No wonder
they are so devoted to him, thought Melissa. She could hardly buy a sweater for
Jonathan. She waved them goodbye and went to the laundry. The laundry was a
small room attached to the inn, on the back side, which contained two
professional washing machines for sheets and duvets. She had more than 10 sets
of beddings to wash and iron. She was a modern time Cinderella, she thought and
smiled. Then the smile froze on her lips. If she is indeed Cinderella, who is
the prince who will pull her out of her misery? She laughed at the idea. There
are no princes in shining armor anymore. There are only princes in shining cars
who sexually harass women and then fire them when they don’t reciprocate.

She sighed
loudly as she loaded the washing machine with the sheets. She programmed the machine
and added the soap. She already felt exhausted and it was only 5 in the afternoon. Maybe she
should go for a nap. Or not! She had an idea. At this time of the day, the
living room was usually empty. I will go and read a few pages of my book to
relax, she thought and headed straight towards the inn.

As expected
the living room was empty. She chose her favourite armchair, the one opposite
the window with a view to the wonderful garden. She pulled the curtains to the
side and lit the fire on the fireplace. The dough was already rising. All the guests
were outside and she had some time to relax before making her famous pizza.
Melissa thought that you don’t need many things in order to feel happy. Just a
good book and a nice fire!

She lost
herself in the pages of the famous novel. The descriptions were so powerful, so
vivid, that for a second she thought that she could see the images with her own
eyes. She was amazed by the perplexity of characters and the depth of their emotions.
The more excited she felt about the book the less excited she felt about the decadence of today’s society. The feelings are much
sallower these days, she thought, while turning the page. Nobody feels these
strong emotions anymore. Most men and women now focus on external appearance
and never take time to really know the other person.

Melissa woke up terrified to find out that she
had slept over her book for more than half an hour. She was curled in her
armchair, now being covered with a blanket. Who covered her? she wondered. It
must have been him. She wanted it to be him. Still in a haze after her nap, she
imagined him covering her with the soft blanket and giving her a tender kiss on
the head…

Melissa
returned home at 2 am and she found it very difficult to wake up in the
morning, even though on Sundays she allowed herself an extra hour of sleep.
When she got ready she went downstairs to eat something, hoping that Jonathan
would have fed the horses by now. In the living room she found Mr Russell and
Mr Wilson, the Smiths and the McKinseys. The two families were all very
sad to leave at noon. The two businessmen were too preoccupied with their
documents so they did not make any comments about the hospitality. Melissa
announced that a small farewell reception would be held before the departure of
the guests and everyone got excited. Then, she went to her office to prepare
the receipts of payment and see if there were new bookings for the following
week.

At 10.30,
after having taken care of the paperwork, she went to the barn to see her
horses and ride Coal. She walked through the thick mud, result of last night’s
drizzle. Jonathan must have fed the horses because the door was unlocked. Thank
God, she thought. She did not feel very energetic today.

When
Melissa got inside the barn she froze. She realized that Chestnut was not in
there. Immediately she called Jonathan on his mobile phone but he said that he hadn’t
feed the horses today and he hadn’t gone to the barn either. Melissa felt her
legs shake violently. What had happened to her horse? She wore her gear immediately
and put a saddle on Chestnut. Maybe she had left the door open yesterday by
accident and the horse leapt over the rail and escaped. Who knows? Maybe she could
find her beloved horse before it would jump over the next property and get lost
for ever.

Coal was
not very cooperative today. Melissa had always believed that Coal sensed her
fear and reacted to it. He most likely felt that she was worried and he responded
with aggression. With stiff commands she managed to control him and started
galloping around the property to find Chestnut.

As the
minutes went by she started to fear that Chestnut was hurt or stolen. But some
20 minutes later she heard a horse nicker. Coal responded immediately and
lifted his hind legs making Melissa lose her balance and almost fall. Her
heartbeat was so intense that she thought her heart would burst. Coal was now
galloping free and she was unable to control him. A few minutes later, though,
she saw Chestnut trotting calmly, with
Phillip on her back.

“What the
hell are you doing?” she shouted to him when she finally approached him.

“What do
you mean?” he asked genuinely puzzled.

“Are you
crazy or do you believe that you already own the inn? You should have told me
that you wanted the horse. I thought I lost it!” she said.

“I woke up
early and went to feed the horses. I thought that you would wake up late since
you went out last night” he said mildly.

“How do
you…Oh hell! Do never ever do that again. Okay?” she continued shouting.

“I heard
you were going out from Mrs. Phillipson and yes I will never do that again” he
said smilingly. He knew he had done something naughty and he had a look on his
face which said “I know I did something bad but I am cute and people always
forgive me”.

“Mr. Mills,
the communication between you and me is impossible”.

“Maybe
verbal, yes” he said.

“What is
that supposed to mean? Oh…” said Melissa suddenly realizing what he meant. She
felt her cheeks turning crimson.

“I would
advise you to refrain from such comments in the future, Mr. Mills” she said
politely.

“Why don’t
we go for a ride together?” he said, changing the subject abruptly.

“I don’t
have much time, Mr. Mills. I have to go back” she said, hoping he would insist.

“Come on,
it’s Sunday. You must have some free time. Follow me” he said and started
galloping towards the lake. Melissa had no choice but to follow. She rode
behind him, admiring his stiff posture and his elegant moves. Chestnut seemed
very happy with her rider. When they stopped and dismounted, they walked together
towards the lake.

“It is very
beautiful, Miss Wilkinson. I understand why it is so hard for you to let go of
your inn”.

“I want my
children to grow up here, Mr. Mills, and I do not intend allowing my property
to become an impersonal resort with a gigantic golf course.” she added.

They were
now walking next to each other, so close that at some points their hands brushed
each other. Melissa felt an electric shock but she tried not to show her
excitement. All things aside, they were a young man and a young woman walking
side by side in an idyllic environment. If only they didn’t have all these barriers
between them! She would definitely be kissing him right now!

“Miss
Wilkisnon, I am sure your children will be very happy wherever they grow up, as
long as you are with them” he said and she felt her heart melt. That was one of
the most beautiful things she has ever heard.

“Where did
you learn riding so well?” she asked him suddenly.

“I grew up
in Texas and I came to London when I was 15 years old. My mother is
American and my father is English. I visit our ranch in Texas very often, whenever I want to retire
from the world” he replied patiently.

“Chestnut
is much happier with you than with me. I think she likes you” she said looking
at him. It was sunny now, and she could see his features very clearly. A small
scar under his left eyebrow, a tiny hair that escaped his razor blade, a golden
circle around his pupil. It would be so easy to lift her hand and feel his
face.

“I think I
like her too” he said looking at her and for a moment he bent over. She did not
blink for fear she would lose a moment with him. What were they talking about?
Was he flirting with her? And if he was, did he mean it or he just wanted to
use her to eliminate any obstructions between him and the inn?

Τετάρτη, 24 Οκτωβρίου 2012

She left
him with all the papers he asked for and went to clean the rooms. She stopped
by the kitchen to ask Mrs. Phillipson about today’s menu. Mrs Phillipson was
excited because her daughter-in-law was finally pregnant.

“I am so
happy for Peter and Cecilia” said Melissa. The couple had been trying to
conceive a baby for years.

“You can’t
imagine how happy I am! Now I will have three grandchildren!” Mrs Phillipson
said while pulling a baking tin out of the oven.Her daughters, Mary, had two twin girls who visited the inn very often
to ride her horses.

“I made a
cherry pie for the occasion. Go clean the rooms and come down to have some!”.

Melissa
went upstairs to clean the rooms. The young couple was in their room and she didn’t
want to disturb them. She went on to clean the rest of the rooms. First she
began with the room where the Smiths stayed. The Smiths were a young couple with
a child. They were not very tidy, so their clothes were all over the place. You
could find books in the bathroom, biscuits on the bed and scattered maps,
leaflets and used tickets. It took her half an hour to arrange the chaos inside
the rooms and sweep and mop the floor. She changed the sheets and the towels
and moved to the other rooms. She worked consistently for a full hour until she found
herself outside Phillip’s room. She stayed there for a few seconds before
knocking on the door. Although his colleagues were still nowhere to be seen, he
was in his bedroom.

“Mr. Mills,
I will have to clean your room” she said shyly. “Do you want to stay in while I
clean or would you rather go downstairs?” she asked him hoping that he would choose
the latter option.

“I am staying
here if you don’t mind. I have a lot of work to do, so I will not bother you at
all” he told her, hardly lifting his eyes from his papers. He was now sitting
in a small desk next to the room’s sofa.

“Okay,
then” she said and started following her cleaning routine. Not that she had to
do much. Rarely did she have the chance to see such an orderly room. He had
unpacked his suitcases and arranged his clothes inside the wardrobe with great care.
His toiletry bag was on the counter in the bathroom and the surfaces were
clean, the way they were on the first day he arrived.

Drop dead
gorgeous AND tidy, she thought. Interesting combination.

While
changing his sheets she thought that if he weren’t there she would smell his
pillowcase. What a silly idea, she thought.

After finishing
her job she gathered her things to leave. Only then did he lift his head and
talked to her. “Thank you very much” he said simply. “I hope it wasn’t a big
trouble for you”.

“Mr. Mills,
you are a neat man” she laughed and closed the door behind her.

When she
stayed alone, she realised to her horror, that she was flirting with the enemy!
Why on earth did she call him “neat”? The last thing I want, she thought, is
for him to think that I like him. I must remember at all times that he is here
to take away something I love dearly and I should not forget that his charms
can be a persuasive method to get what he wants.

Melissa
went to her room to have a quick shower and wear a dress. Tonight she would
meet some friends at the local pub. She could not even remember the last time
she went out but she was determined to have fun and make up for the lost time.
It was already past eight and she didn’t want to be late for her appointment. Her
friends, Lynn, Chloe and John would wait for her outside “The Monkey” pub.
Melissa felt really comfortable with them all, but she rarely went out with
them due to her busy schedule. After a
warm shower, she chose a simple blue dress and matching Mary Janes. She curled her
hair with the curling wand and examined her image on the mirror.

She was
always appreciative for her looks. She had fair hair and big blue eyes. Her
nose was sprinkled with freckles and her lips were full and rosy. Her body was firm
and thin. It was always easy for her to get the attention of men, but she has
never taken advantage of it. Maybe because she has never met a man that she
would like to charm.

Happy with
her overall appearance she added a golden chain with an oval locket. It was her
parents’ present for her 16th birthday. She had their pictures
inside and it was her favourite piece of jewellery. She put her keys and her
wallet in a small purse and headed for an exciting night out.

Before leaving
the inn, Melissa stopped at the kitchen to try some cherry pie.

“It is
delicious” she told Mrs Philipson, who was radiating happiness.

“Everybody
loved it. Have fun” she heard her say as she was dashing into her car.

As her car
swallowed the kilometers she was finally able to relax. She was done with
today’s chores and now she could have a drink and enjoy herself with her
friends. She found them waiting anxiously for her and when they sat around a
table near the bar, they all began chatting. Lynn was teaching French in the local high
school, Chloe was a shop assistant and John was doing his PhD in Wildlife
Conservation. Tonight’s hot topic was that Chloe’s ex boyfriend was seen with
her cousin. Thank God Chloe was over him because otherwise she would have been devastated
by the news.

“Men are a
waste of time” Lynn
yelled and John protested. “Only the ones you like” he said.

«Mr. Willow” Melissa said to her lawyer after a
few hours, “I have run out of options and I need your help”. Mr. Willow was 70
years old but he looked much younger than that. He was tall and very thin and
he had a black moustache although his hair was greyish. Mr. Willow was not very
talkative but he was very efficient. He always managed to calm her when she had
legal issues.

“From what
I hear, dear, you have many options but you are too upset to see it. First of
all” he said resting his glasses on the tip of his nose, “you can call the
police if you feel threatened in any way. Also you can call the British
Hospitality Association and inform them that he threatened to slur your
business. But before you do that, make sure you let him know that you have
these options. He is very powerful and you should not take immediate actions
against him. For the time being we just want him to know that we are not
powerless”.

“Mr.
Willow, I do not feel comfortable having him around. He seems so confident that
he will buy my inn that it drives me crazy” Melissa said.

“If you do
not want to sell you inn, nobody can make you, dear. We are here to help you.
You should stand up to him. Let him stay for a few days if he wants, be polite,
and by the end of the week, let him know that he has outstayed his welcome” he
said.

“Thank you
very much, Mr. Willow. You always make me feel better after I visit you” she
said softly.

“Lawyers
are underappreciated. A good lawyer can be as soothing as a tranquilizer” he
said and Melissa laughed.

“I’ve never
thought of that” she said, leaving his office after a firm handshake.

Melissa
felt relieved after the visit to her lawyer. Now she fell strong enough to
confront the banking system. She knew they would not grand her a loan but she hoped
they would find an alternative. With an assertive posture she walked into the
bank where she had deposited all her money. This specific branch was open for a
few hours on Saturdays for issues like loan and mortgages applications, as well
as business and investment planning.

The clerk
who helped her told her that she is not eligible for a loan as her savings are inadequate
and her earnings are not fixed. Melissa retorted that her earnings are not
fixed because without a loan she cannot improve her inn. The clerk went to talk
with his supervisor and returned after a few minutes. He told her that the bank
“is sorry but cannot offer any alternative options”.

Melissa
left the bank disappointed, thinking that she should transfer her savings to
another bank. They didn’t even pretend to try to help her. Idiots! she said to
herself. They do not see anything beyond numbers. They do not see determination
and vision, only earnings and expenditure.

An hour
later, she was unloading the boot of her car, outside her inn. She had bought
some cleaning products and 6 bottles of her favourite red wine. Every Sunday afternoon
she would host a small farewell reception for her guests. Normally her guests
stayed for a long weekend and by Sunday night the inn was empty. This week
thought, Phillip and a young couple would extend their stay until next Friday. Melissa
was happy for the extra money but disappointed that she would have to tolerate
his obnoxious behaviour for six more days.

Jonathan
came to help her when he heard her.

“Where is
my little princess?” he said to her.

“Your
little princess went to her lawyer and then to the bank. Do princesses run
errands?” she asked with a wide smile on her face.

“I’d like
to think that you are a princess unlike no other!” he said and Melissa gave him
a hug.

“You are so
kind, Jonathan” she added.

Melissa stepped
inside the inn to find Phillip alone, reading a word file on his laptop. He was
now wearing a pair of black trousers and a black turtleneck sweater. He was so
handsome that she couldn’t take her eyes off him. She admired the straight line
of his nose, his full lips and long eyelashes. She felt an impulse to touch his
hair but instead she buried her hands in her pockets.

“Mr. Mills,
what a pleasure!” she said with exaggerated excitement to conceal her improper
thoughts. “Where is your retinue?”.

Phillip
must have been very absorbed to what he was reading because for a moment he did
not understand what she was saying.

“Retinue?
What an unusual word choice, miss Wilkinson!” he said. “My colleagues, as I
like to call them, are visiting your lawyer right now. I stayed here to study
some documents and talk with you”.

“What is it
that you want to tell me, sir?”

“I would
like to see the property titles. I want to know the exact size of the property”
he said while getting up. It was the polite thing to do but Melissa felt threatened
by his height. She was 5 feet 6 inches tall herself but he must have been more
than 6 feet 3. He made her feel like an insect.

“I am not
obliged to bring you the titles, sir” she said clenching her fists.

“You are
not obliged indeed. But the sooner you bring them the sooner I finish my job
here and leave” he said.

“Well, that
is a nice argument, sir” she said and turned the other way in order to bring
the papers. She knew he would sooner or later find them in the local land
registry, so why not help him see the documents earlier?

Δευτέρα, 22 Οκτωβρίου 2012

Well, okay,
Melissa thought. We are in big trouble. The man is a pain in the neck.

She was
lying on her bed but she couldn’t sleep. The inn was so quiet that you could
listen to the sounds of the night. A passing car, a hooting owl, a squeaking bed.

She knew
she had no reason to believe so, but she thought that Marianne was fired by
Phillip because he made a move on her and she did not reciprocate. She imagined
her friend being afraid of accusing him for sexual harassment the way she
herself felt afraid of throwing him out of her inn.

Melissa
liked to prioritize the chores for the next day before going to sleep. That did
not always help her relax, but this way she could organize her thoughts and
schedule.

First thing
in the morning, she would call Mr Willow, the family’s lawyer, and then she
would contact the bank to see if she was eligible for a small loan. Moreover,
she would try to keep very busy all day long in order to avoid any encounters
with him. She was so upset that she wouldn’t even pronounce his name. She
sighed. He had a very beautiful name. And not only this…

Melissa
woke up at 6.30 and went straight to the barn to feed her horses. By seven o’
clock she was having a shower and at 7.30 she went to the dining hall to eat
something. She wore a pair of tight jeans and a checkered shirt with a white
top on the inside. She felt an impulse to use some make up before going for
breakfast but rejected the idea. There was noone to impress. Right?

She found
Mr Harrison, Mr Wilson and Mr Russell enjoying Mrs Philipson’s chocolate cake.
Some other guests, a newly-wed couple and a family from Scotland were
sitting by the fireplace and drinking a cup of tea each. The picture was so
warm that Melissa felt the urge to remove her heavy boots and relax with them.
Unfortunately her busy schedule did not allow her to waste any time.

She looked
around and realized that Phillip was not there. She approached the three
businessmen who, thank God, wore a simple shirt and trousers today.

“Where’s Mr
Mills today, gentlemen?” she asked them smilingly. They all seemed very
kind.

Mr Harrison
went first. “Mr Mills goes jogging every morning no matter what. We are meeting
here at 8 sharp to discuss about the take-over”. Melissa shivered.

“We will
see the titles to the property and maybe visit your lawyer” added Mr Russell.

“I am
planning to visit him this morning, gentlemen, so I believe he will prefer to
see me first. Maybe you should change your plans” said Melissa stiffly.

“Our time
is precious, miss Wilkinson. We will see him today, just a little bit later
than you” interfered Mr. Wilson. He seemed the stiffest of them three.

“Do what
you have to do, and so will I” said Melissa stoutly. She took a piece of French
toast from the buffet, gave Mrs. Philipson a quick kiss and went outside to
find Jonathan. She wanted to see if her car was fixed.

“Good
morning, my angel” he said when he saw her. Jonathan was always very affectionate
with her. Maybe because he didn’t have kids of his own and knew Melissa since
the day she was born.

“Good morning
to you too! Jonathan, is my car ready yet? I need to go to my lawyer” he said.

“I will
pick it up from the garage today, at 10 o’clock. If you need it earlier, I can
drive you to town with my car” he said.

“No, it’s
okay. I have some things to do around. 10 o’clock is fine” she reassured him
and walked towards the gazebo.

The gazebo
was halfway between the inn and the lake. Melissa’s father had built it himself
because he loved woodworking. Melissa used to go there to study when she was
younger but now her intentions were very different. Now she wanted replace an
old wooden piece which was cracked last week due to the wind. She had her tool
belt with her and she was determined to have it fixed. She had already tried
twice but she had failed. She didn’t want to tell Jonathan to do it, because
she knew he had a bad back pain. So she walked towards the gazebo, taking deep
breaths in order to relax. The gazebo stood tall and impressive in the middle
of her property. She got inside and started pulling out the cracked piece when
she saw a figure with the corner of her eye. She got really frightened for a
moment but then she remembered that she had all sorts of lethal tools with her!
The man started approaching her and only then did she realize that the man was
only jogging. And that it was him!

“Miss
Wilkinson” he said when he got near her. “I didn’t know you wake up so early”.

I didn’t
know you jog with a tight sleeveless t-shirt either, she said to herself.

“Well, Mr
Mills, it’s not the only thing you don’t know about me, is it?” she retorted smilingly.

“I see you
are in a good mood” he said ironically. “I will let you do your job. I have
some laps to finish and then, work, work, work” he said musically and left.

Melissa
watched him speed off and admired his elegant movements. He ran like a puma,
confident and strong. Like a predator who attacks its prey. He was a majestic
sight, even so early in the morning. Even in a simple t-shirt and sweatpants he
was the finest example of masculinity.

Twenty
minutes later, she was still trying to pull out the wooden plank which needed
replacement. “I know I can do it” she said to herself to lift her spirits but
all she did was to lose her balance and fall flat while trying to pull the
piece out. Suddenly, she felt somebody helping her get up. It was Phillip. She
felt his strong arms lifting her like a feather and closed her eyes to enjoy
the moment. When he put her down on the bench, he lifted his right foot and
with a single, violent side kick broke the wooden plank. He plucked the rest
and gave it to her. She stayed still, holding the piece in her arms like a
little baby, looking at him. She wanted to react, to say something but she
couldn’t. The raw power of this man had left her speechless. He was so close to
her. She could she his veins throbbing from the jogging, his forehead
glistening with sweat. She could reach out and feel his toned stomach.

“You are
welcome” he said when some time passed and she did not thank him.

Then he
turned and left again.

Melissa
thought that he would think she is totally rude and ungrateful but the truth was that she wasn’t
either of these. She was simply…aroused.

Melissa was
alone in her office staring at the screen of her computer. It was 11 o’clock, way past her bedtime.
Phillips had left her more than 3 hours ago but she still was not able to fully
understand his perseverance. He told him she was not interested in selling her
inn but he seemed very confident that he would make her change her mind. She
went online to search his background alittle bit, to
find out what kind of person he was. Her little research did nothing but raise
her fears. He was aruthless businessman who made his
first million before 30. Now he was 33 and he was already one of the most
powerful men in Europe. He lived permanently
in a mansion in London and according to the
tabloids he has had short-term relationships with the most popular top models
and actresses in the UK.

She had her
job cut out for her. She was no much for such a powerful man. What were her options?
She could carry on refusing to sell her inn, but what if he decided to play dirty?
What if he decided to pull some strings and ruin the inn’s reputation? He
seemed very determined to buy her inn. Was he the kind of person that would
resort to illegal methods to achieve his goals?

Melissa
decided to turn off her computer and go to bed when she saw her friend online
on skype. She clicked on the green button to make the call.

Marianne
appeared on the screen soon afterwards. She seemed very refreshed and happy.
Melissa was glad for her friend.

“Well, the
city is very beautiful and my new boss is very kind, unlike my previous one. I
work 9 to 5 and then I have a lot of free time to spend with some new people
I’ve met here. I have also found a great tutor and I am learning French!”.

Melissa was
excited to hear her friend so happy. This is how life should be for a young
woman.

“Now tell
me what is bothering you” said Marianne. Melissa did not want to break the bad
news to her friend and ruin her day but she needed somebody to talk. to. So she
started talking.

“A businessman
came here and he wants to buy my inn. I told him that I am not interested but I
am afraid that he might employ devious methods to slander my business and then
buy it easily”.

“Come on,
Melissa, you should not be that afraid of him. First of all, call your lawyer
and let him know that you feel threatened. Second of all, who is he? Is he
powerful?” Marianne asked.

“His name
is Phillip Mills and he is the founder of Philoxenia Hotels. He is very
powerful” Melissa said in despair.

Her friend
did not reply.

“Marianne,
what’s wrong? You look pale. What happened?”.

“I know who
he is” said Marianne with a serious tone. “He is the person who fired me and made
leave my country” she added.

“What?”
Melisa gasped. She remembered that Marianne worked for a businessman but she
did not know his name.

“I thought
you were working for a constructor or something like that”.

“Phillip
used to work in constructions before turning to hotels. That is why you thought
he was a constructor”.

Melissa remembered
that when Marianna got fired by her employer, she was devastated. She worked
for him very faithfully and when he told her that he did no longer needed her
services she collapsed. That is why she found a job abroad. She was very
disappointed from his behaviour.

“What kind
of man is he then? You’ve never told me why he fired you” said Melissa softly.
It was about time she told her.

“He is very
hard working and determined. He is very kind, unless you do something that
bothers him. Then he gets really angry” Marianne said.

“And why
did he fire you?” Melissa said. She knew that she insisted on a very delicate
issue but she had to know.

“I can’t
tell you much right now, I am not ready yet. But I can tell you that: we got to
a point that what we wanted from each other was totally different”.